User menu

Search form

You are here

Public Policy

Track description

Modern policy making, devoted to the principles of good governance, transparency, accountability and effectiveness, needs to be based on sound academic analysis. The Public Policy track is designed for scholars interested in conducting research on the cause, function, nature and outcome of public policy. The program taught by faculty that specialize in different levels of policy making, including the sub-national, national, European Union and global levels, and PhD students work on or have graduated with theses that focus on each of these different levels.

Research and study in the Public Policy track draws on both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Most projects emphasize empirically driven analysis. The track is primarily designed to train academic researchers in the field of comparative public policy, but scholars also learn to apply analytical tools to ‘real world’ policy problems and to produce high-quality policy advice.

The faculty involved in the PhD program come from a range of public-policy related disciplinary backgrounds, including international relations, politics, law and economics. In addition to being authoritative voices in their respective fields of research, they also have first-hand policy experience, working for think-tanks (e.g. the RAND Corporation) or businesses (e.g. Vodafone), consulting with NGOs (e.g. Open Society Institute, Transparency International) or advising national or local governments, as well as international organizations (e.g. World Bank Institute).

The Public Policy track prepares graduate students for careers in academic and applied research institutions, as well as the public, private and voluntary sector more generally. The core courses in the track focus on the development of professional research and analytical skills in the fields of European and international public policy, comparative policy analysis and political economy.

Core curriculum

Public Policy: Theories, Traditions and Transitions(4 credits)

Public Administration(4 credits)

Research in EU integration and governance(4 credits)

Who should apply?

The track welcomes applications in fields that reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of public policy and the track’s mission to bridge policy and practice. These include, in particular,

European Union politics and policy, regional integration

Governance (local, national, European Union, global)

Public management and administration

Policy reform analysis

Development and trade

Role of civil society in public policy

Minorities

Public services and utilities (particularly media and communications, energy and higher education)